HILDA BLANCHARD

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HILDA BLANCHARD She was always the one who said it was time to go. This time it was all too fast. It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of a loving wife, mom and grandma. Hilda Eleanor Blanchard passed away suddenly on March 15, 2003 at the Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach, MB at the age of 76. Hilda leaves behind a proud man who loved her dearly, her husband of 53 years, Rollie; her children, David (Janet), Debbie (Rod Palson), Lori (Doug Walker) and her greatest passion of all, her grandchildren, Jess and Lindsey Palson, Mark and Carla Blanchard, Jesse and Kody Walker - life for them will never be the same without their playful and caring grandma. Her sisters were her pillars of strength, she leaves only one to mourn her passing, Mil Misener, as well as special sister-in-law Polly Fairbairn. She was predeceased by her parents, David and Isabelle Fairbairn; brothers, John (Pro), David (Punk), Alexander (Sandy) and Tom; sisters, Marjorie, Elizabeth (Toots) and Molly Carey; sisters-in-law, Lillian and Verna; and brother-in-law Len Carey. Mom was a great fan of the great outdoors and a great fan of sports, especially curling and baseball, and everyone she knew was a fan of hers! Her priority was always "you first", particularly when it came to family. She could never do enough for others. For those who had the pleasure of sitting at her kitchen table, her baking and cooking was a drawing card. And when it came to drawing cards, there were few who could match her style at that same kitchen table. She had a strict order of rules for the household, counter-balanced only by a warm and genuine sense of humour. She loved to crochet afghans and to knit, but most of all, she loved to call Rollies bluff when he was trying to spin a yarn. She stamped her trademark on every Manitoba town that we called home, and she will be overwhelmingly missed by an extended family that is vast. She was a friend of her childrens friends and her grandchildrens friends. Her granddaughters could confide in her and her grandsons were proud to stand by her. She was a friend of the roaring game of curling and was steadfast with those who shared that passion with her. She was a friend of nature and of dogs with mens names. And for the past several years, her and Rollies best friends have been the game of golf and moonlit bonfires at their quaint little cabin in Geysir. Fittingly, her last activity in life was to watch a game of curling at the local rink. She was counting the moments until the first rock would be thrown at the World Championships in April. Be assured friends, the seat wont be empty. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Hilda Eleanor Blanchard will be held on Tuesday, March 18 at 2:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, 150 Penfeld Dr. Steinbach, where her friends and fellow curlers will be honorary pallbearers. A final farewell service will be held for the closest of friends and family at Pipestone, MB on Thursday, March 20 at 2:00 p.m. at the Pipestone Community Hall. She will be laid to rest with the proud clan of Fairbarin in the Pipestone Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Sandra Schmerler Foundation, 1660 Vimont Court, Cumberland, ON K4A 4J4. Rest in peace my precious love. Fare thee well Mom. Well love you always Grandma. Arrangements entrusted to: Birchwood Funeral Chapel 150 Penfeld Dr., Steinbach, MB 1-888-454-1030 or 1-204-346-1030

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 17, 2003